Improvement in automatic fingers for closing the vents of cannons



A. LE M AUTOMATIC r1 9 R.

No. 24,313. Patented June 7, 1859.

Witnesses "1 avail myself of the percussion-locks that these locks I add the appendages B,'B', and O,

' metically, and thus performing a mans duty UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER LE MAT, OF NEW ORLEAN S, LOUISIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN AUTOMATIC FINGERS FOR CLOSING THE VENTS 0F CANNONS, dc.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent-No. f24,3 l 8, dated June 7, 1859.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Col. ALEXANDER Ln MAT, of New Orleans, State of Louisiana, have invented'a new and improved mode for closing up automatically the vents of cannons, mortars, or any piece of siege, artillery, or boat guns to which a percussion-lock with a receding movement is applied,with a view of preventing the introduction of the air therein and the accidents resulting therefrom; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to th letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in providing the front end of the percussion-lock referred to with an apparatus which I call an automatic finger," made of a continuous piece with the hammer, and subject to all the movements of the said lock.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, Twill proceed to de-. scribe its construction and operation.

are in use for firing cannons, mortars, 8:0. To

which are a direct continuation of the hammer A. A threaded rod-the automatic finger, properly so called-O, plays into the hole 0, being retained in its position by the nut D,w-hose purpose is to raise or lower the rod or automatic finger,according to the necessities of the case. By the receding movement of the lock, Figure 1,the automatic finger Cis brought opposite the vent, pressing upon it and closing it up herduring the maneuver. The gases and fragments of the primer resulting from firing have had time to escape through the ring formed by the appendages B and B. A tampion, F, of leather, asbestus, or of any suitable material, is containedin the cup E,which is screwed upon the'lower end of the rod 0, closingup the vent while the arm is reloaded; and in order to obtainthe requisite pressure of the aut0- matic finger 0 upon the vent G, an inclined plane, H, is provided for acting as a lever against the hind part of the lock A. The same object is attained by iving an inclination to the slotof the 100 through which passes the axial bolt. The inclined plane may be resorted to in case the automatic finger could I be attached to the old locks, while the slot maybe made inclined in all the new-made ones. To remedy the inconveniences of the wearing off about the vent, a nipple, G, is provided for, which, in being replaced, refits a cannon for immediate service. Besides, when cannons fall into the hands of the vanquisher, the latter could not use them against the vanquished, should the nipple be removed or injured before passing into his hands, unless he is in possession of the very same nipples fitting the bushing of the pieces.

Fig. 1 represents a; percussion-lock, with its automatie'finger viewed in profile. Fig. 2 is a top view of the same; Fig. 3, a section of the breech of a cannon.

A is the percussion-lock; B and B',semicircu-- .lar prolongations of the head orhammer,united at both extremities, and forminga ring, to which is attached the automatic finger C, properly so called; 0, threaded rod or automatic finger, properly so called, playing into aneye or hole, 0, at the front end of the ringB and B,and keptin place bythenutD; D,nut serving to graduate the threaded rod or "automatic finger properly so called,0; E, cup screwed at the lower end of the threaded rod or automatic finger 0, containing a cylindrical piece of "leather, asbestus, or any other suitable substance, and acting asa tampion; F, tampionjust referred to, contained-within the cup E; G, nipple of platina or any other suitable metal or alloy, screwing into the bushing of the piece, J H, inclined plane acting as a lever against the hind part of the lock A in its receding movement, thus lowering the automatic finger O to the level of the vent, which it closes hermetically, with a considerable pressure; J, bushing of the piece, to receive the nipple G. 4

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The apparatus B and B, with the automatic finger C, substantially as described.

2. The inclined plane H, in the manner and purpose described; or, as an equivalent, the inclination of the slot of the percussion-lock, for the purpose set forth.

A. LE MAT.

. Witnesses:

WM. W. Tum. EDWD. Lvon'rr. 

